Major Spoilers Staff Picks for June 05, 2013

The year is nearly half over, but that won’t stop the comics from arriving in stores. Take the jump for a rundown of what the Major Spoilers staff is looking forward to this week.

ASTRO CITY #1 Writer: Kurt Busiek Artist: Brent Anderson Publisher: DC Comics Cover Price: $3.99 SOLICITATION: ASTRO CITY is back in a new, ongoing monthly series that showcases old heroes and new, as The Ambassador comes to Earth, and an ordinary man is caught up in a cosmic conflict! Featuring the return of favorites like Samaritan and Honor Guard, and the debut of some new sensations! Plus, the seeds of a new mystery: Who is the Broken Man? The entire award-winning creative team is back to kick off a new epoch of the human and the super human. Get in on the ground floor of Astro City’s next epic!

GEORGE:There’s a new Astro City? How come no one told me? Kurt Busiek’s original tale of a city stuffed with superheroes and villains is one of the best things to happen to comics, and I couldn’t be more excited that we’re getting another installment.

KEVIN:Astro City is a comic series that dives deep into the superhero mythos. The old issues are full of creativity and fun to read. Astro City contains superhero stories that major industries are too afraid to publish because it would affect their universe or ruin their branding. I hope the new series follows with this tread.

RODRIGO: There is never a reason not to read Astro City. Astro City is a love letter to everything that superhero comics are, including their inconsistencies and shortcomings.

STEPHEN: Astro City has long been a series that I pick up, read, and enjoy. With this new series, I’m interested in seeing what Kurt Busiek is bringing to the table in this go around.

AVENGERS #13 Writer: Jonathan Hickman, Nick Spencer Artist: Mike Deodato Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: $3.99 SOLICITATION: “EVOLUTIONARY LEAP”
• The High Evolutionary stakes his claim on the Children of the Sun.
• Hyperion learns the true cost of the decisions he’s made at the Origin Site in the Savage Land.
• The Return of techno-titan Terminus.

GEORGE:Oh man, Terminus? TERMINUS? I think Jonathan Hickman must be a big fan of X-Men Annual #12, a ridiculous issue featuring Terminus, the High Evolutionary and Garrok in the Savage Land (with a delightfully stupid backup story featuring the X-Babies). I have a soft spot for this annual, myself since it was the first X-Men back issue I ever bought. Apparently Hickman does too, since this Avengers storyline is featuring ALL those weirdoes. Welcome back to the 80s.

BTVS SPIKE TP VOL 01 DARK PLACE Writer: Victor Gischler Artist: Paul Lee, Andy Owens Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Cover Price: $17.99 SOLICITATION: Fresh from his latest attempt to get Buffy to act on her feelings for him, Spike has fled to the dark side of the moon. His trip leads him to a group of dangerous demons and a rude awakening from his reverie, which in turn leads him on an unexpected adventure to . . . Sunnydale! Collecting Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Spike-A Dark Place #1-#5.

ROB:Hey, more Buffy trades this week. And it’s one of the better characters in the Buffy-verse to boot. Definitely grabbing this as soon as I can.

DAREDEVIL DARK NIGHTS #1 Writer: Lee Weeks Artist: Lee Weeks Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: $2.99 SOLICITATION: A gorgeous new series featuring the greatest talents in comics brings you the rest of the Man Without Fear’s storyLegendary artist Lee Weeks returns to his favorite hero for “Angels Unaware!”A blizzard brings New York to a stand still — and a young patient lies on death’s door unless Daredevil can get to him in time!

CHRIS: Lee Weeks writing Daredevil? Count me in. Lee Weeks drawing Daredevil as well? Definitely count me in. I believe this is an anthology series, so that’s refreshing since you don’t see much of those anymore. Did I mention Lee Weeks is doing it? Awesomeness.

RODRIGO:Ooh, this looks like exactly the sort of claustrophobic, gritty story I like to see in Daredevil. Hopefully Slapstick does not guest-star.

STEPHEN: If you listened to last week’s Dueling Review (and you did, I know you did, because you are awesome), you know Matthew and I are both looking forward to what the Dark Night (but not THAT Dark Knight) has in store for Matt Murdock.

HEROBEAR AND THE KID SPECIAL #1 Writer: Mike Kunkel Artist: Mike Kunkel Publisher: KaBOOM! Cover Price: $3.99 SOLICITATION: THE INDEPENDENT ALL-AGES SMASH HEROBEAR AND THE KID RETURNS! It’s Picture Day at Tyler’s school, and naturally, he’s forgotten! But before Tyler can pick his good side, he has to sneak out of class with his best friend Herobear to stop an attack on the Simpleton Bridge from the mysterious Von Klon and his Sub-of-Doom! …and he better not lose his hall pass in the process. Don’t miss as creator Mike Kunkel relaunches his Eisner-award winning creation at KaBOOM! with a brand new original adventure! Cover by James Harren (B.P.R.D.)!

CHRIS: I was completely oblivious that this even existed until I read the Boom! Studios FCBD issue, and I was absolutely floored. The art is amazing and has the look of animation penciling and the storytelling is heartwarming. Something both parents and children can enjoy together.

LOCKE & KEY OMEGA #5 Writer: Joe Hill Artist: Gabriel Rodriguez Publisher: IDW Publishing Cover Price: $3.99 SOLICITATION: In the Drowning Cave, the black door is open at last, and for the kids trapped down there, the choice is simple: resist and die, or pass through the door and be lost forever. In the hole beneath Keyhouse the stones run with blood, the living shadows run riot, and time runs out… as Locke & Key enters its final chapters.

ROB:The end is almost upon us, and I couldn’t be more excited! It’s going to be very disappointing to see the series come to a conclusion, but we should enjoy every moment on the way there.

STEPHEN:This is by far the BEST comic book run ever. No, really. I’m sad to see the big story coming to a close but each step closer to the final issue has been filled with wonderfulness, and I expect the same thing in this installment.

RODRIGO: Definitely way into this. Weird and disjointed but has enough style to carry me through.

SCREWED #1 Writer: Patrick Shand, Tyler Kirkham Artist: David Miller Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment Cover Price: $2.99 SOLICITATION: A young woman awakens in a hospital covered in scars as if she had been taken apart and put back together again. Her mind is as fragmented as her body, leaving her delusional and seeing monsters everywhere. Is this the work of a serial killer, or something far worse? FBI Agent Erin Scott intends to help her find out, with or without the approval of her superiors in this visionary modern, mature re-imagining of the Frankenstein legend from acclaimed artist/creator Tyler Kirkham (New Guardians, Teen Titans, Amazing Spider-Man).

CHRIS: I’m not going to lie, the only thing that made me curious about this book was the title. Zenescope books haven’t impressed me much, especially in the art department but the premise of this sounded cool. If anything, I’m sure there’ll be some big breasted, scantily clad women so I guess it won’t be a complete waste of money.

THANOS RISING Writer: Jason Aaron Artist: Simone Bianchi Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: $3.99 SOLICITATION: • The Mad Titan flees his home in search of true love.
• But how many lives will he have to take to find it?
• The book so blood-soaked you’ll be glad it’s a mini-series.

GEORGE: For a Thanos neophyte like myself, this miniseries has been a nice introduction to the character. Aaron’s slow build of Thanos’s gradual nihilism is extremely well done – while I can clearly see the arc, I am enjoying the ride plenty. It looks like things are about to kick into high gear as Thanos is oh-so-close to embracing his present identity. Should be a fun/disturbing issue.

TRINITY OF SIN THE PHANTOM STRANGER #9 Writer: J. M. DeMatteis Artist: Fernando Blanco Publisher: DC Comics Cover Price: $2.99 SOLICITATION: The Phantom Stranger travels to Hell to save his family! But to do so, he must defeat a foe he never expected to see again!

ROB: That’s a title change there, right? That’s interesting. Also interesting, the story that led to this point. I have been pleasantly surprised with this book each step of the way and am happy to be picking up the “new” title.

ROBOT OVERLORD: Plenty of books to pick from this week, and looking at this list, it’s clear that the meatbags I have slaving away have chosen wisely. What say you, human? What books are on your list this week?

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